Proposed King & Louisa | 24 m | 8 fl

[UrbanWaterloo]

I stopped into Kitchener's planning office today to get more details on this project.

The maximum allowed commercial is being included, 1000 m² (10764 ft²). This takes up the majority of the building's main floor. There's two entrances off King, one off Louisa. Speaking with the property owner, it's their intention to offer space back to existing tenants. He read the comments on here, and agrees it should be an urban building (like Toronto's Queen/Bloor).

The building goes right up to the corner of King & Louisa and is shaped as a long 'L'.

The floor space ratio is 4, the maximum permitted on this site.

There's 2 underground levels of parking. Underground was preferred, since that space isn't included in the FSR calculation (an intentional part of Kitchener's Mixed Use plans).

The architect is ABA Architects (Edited).

No renderings are available yet to the public, but are expected to be included in the site plan documents. I'll post those when they're available.

[zanate]

Wow. I think I like it.

Nice to offer back to the existing tenants. But... I suspect that the new commercial units' rent will probably be a fair bit higher, especially since (given 3 entrances) the resulting units could be pretty big. (I suppose they could internally subdivide.)

None the less, it could help breathe some life into this block.

[MidTowner]

UrbanWaterloo, thanks a lot for getting those details. Fantastic to hear all of that. Including that much commercial space is a great idea- I can't wait to hear more about the project, but good luck to them if this is the kind of development they are interested in.

[Lugnut]

That's fantastic news. This property was one I always thought should be done first in Mid Town as it could really spur development in both directions.

So maybe fair to say, two commercial entrances on Kimg and the residential entrance off Louisa. I like.

[ruud]

Wow, seems like a step in the right direction, that is for sure. I hope the rent remains reasonable for the previous tenants. It's defintiley better to have business signs on your building then "For Lease" signs on it.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Approved at today's committee meeting...

A 2012-010 & A 2012-011 - 672-692 King St W and 8 & 12 and 18 Louisa St.pdf

[MidTowner]

Thanks a lot, UrbanWaterloo.

This is fantastic news. If this projects includes at least as much retail as is currently on the property, it will be a great addition to this part of the neighbourhood. It will be good to see some extra density here.

[zanate]

It is good news, definitely. I don't think it will be without its downsides, though: I highly doubt that the businesses located here will be able to afford a home in the new commercial space. They will have to relocate, and we will probably see chain businesses in this location.

My opinion is that this is particular fate is unavoidable. None of the existing buildings are worth keeping, and housed these businesses probably because their rent is very cheap. I'd go so far as to call this block an eyesore. Still, I look forward to developments where we see not just commercial space replaced, but commercial space added where none existed before.

And a good way to encourage that is more people living in the core, so a nice 8-story residential on top of this commercial is a great addition. (Also, not absurdly out of scale like some of the 25-story projects being considered in Waterloo.)

[insider]

(Also, not absurdly out of scale like some of the 25-story projects being considered in Waterloo.)

Not 'considered'... it's more like 'shortsightedly and ridiculously easily approved'.

[MidTowner]

Has anyone heard anything about this lately? Wondering if the site owner or architect has provided any more indication of what they think the development might look like.

[EdTheTed]

I know some of the neighbours are not crazy about how tall the building will be with residential properties on Louisa right behind it. The developer has also been a little reticent to offer any real drawings or specifics. The Breithaupt Block folks had all kinds of 'artists renderings' of what it would look like way before it was developed and the 'infill' buildings torn down. This developer seems a little shy to offer us a look at his 'vision'.

[mpd618]

In the meantime one of the units has a sign for Vietnamese subs. Is this a move by the place across from the Kitchener market, or another shop?

[plam]

In the meantime one of the units has a sign for Vietnamese subs. Is this a move by the place across from the Kitchener market, or another shop?

It shouldn't be: that place (Givral) posted a sign that it was moving away from the core, not towards Louisa. It's too bad, I liked getting the bánh mì after shopping at the market, and they're much less accessible now. On the other hand, maybe sometimes I'll go when biking to Grand River Rocks. But I don't quite know when they're actually open.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Confirmed, the place you saw advertising Vietnamese subs is in fact the new location for Givral Deli.